Deputy Foreign Minister Hussain Bhaila, yesterday informed Parliament that when President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in January this year, he had agreed to explore the possibility of going even further than the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to find a solution to the national problem.

"President Rajapaksa assured Minister Mukherjee that it was his intention to move as quickly as possible to implement the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, which followed the India – Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987 and even explore the possibility to go further than these proposals," Minister Bhaila said, tabling in response to a question raised by JVP MP Premasiri Manage.

Manage had questioned the details, including the matters discussed by the Indian External Affairs Minister.

Minister Mukherjee visited Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by the Government of Sri Lanka, Minister Bhaila said.

"President Rajapaksa expressed his hopes for future developments in Sri Lanka and stressed that military victories offer a political opportunity to restore life in the Northern Province and throughout Sri Lanka. The President assured the visiting Indian Minister of his intent for both countries to work together to enable Sri Lankans and particularly the Tamil community in the North, to begin leading normal lives as soon as possible," the document tabled by Minister Bhaila said.